An Unfamiliar Holiday Spirit

WEEKLY MARKET UPDATE – December 1, 2020

Thanksgiving week has come and gone, officially kicking off the Christmas season. Stocks rose this week as markets continue to be encouraged by the progress in COVID-19 vaccine trials. Globally, COVID-19 infections continue to increase. New daily infections in the U.S. remain stubbornly above 100K. Economic data was mostly positive this week with spending, housing, and manufacturing all beating expectations. Unemployment claims have been choppy but moving downwards, likely indicating slowly recovering labor markets. Recently, unemployment declines have slowed somewhat, prompting questions as to whether or not the recovery may be coming to a halt. The persistently high and increasing case rates of COVID-19 in the U.S. remain concerning, and restrictive measures have begun being reinstated in some areas. The increase in cases has been statistically correlated with schools reopening, and as the flu season sets in transmission, rates may increase even further.

Overseas, developed markets and emerging markets both rose. Global indices continue to respond well to reports of an effective vaccine, likely increasing hopes that lockdowns in Europe could be ended sooner than later.

Markets performed well this week, with equity indices bringing in positive returns. Fears concerning global stability and health are an unexpected factor in asset values, and the recent volatility serves as a great reminder of why it is so important to remain committed to a long-term plan and maintain a well-diversified portfolio. When stocks were struggling to gain traction last month, other asset classes such as gold, REITs, and US Treasury bonds proved to be more stable. Flashy news headlines can make it tempting to make knee-jerk decisions, but sticking to a strategy and maintaining a portfolio consistent with your goals and risk tolerance can lead to smoother returns and a better probability for long-term success.

Chart of the Week

European stocks have skyrocketed during November, and may even set a new record for a monthly performance mark. Europe was battered in the fall by a resurgent COVID-19 spread, making recent news of effective vaccines extremely supportive for European stocks.

Market Update

Equities

Broad market equity indices finished the week mostly positive, with major large-cap indices underperforming small-cap. Economic data has been solid, but the global recovery is still threatened by COVID-19.

S&P sectors returned mostly positive results this week. Energy and financials outperformed, returning 8.51% and 4.60% respectively. Utilities and real estate underperformed, posting 0.24% and -0.37% respectively. Technology leads the pack so far YTD, returning 33.69% in 2020.

Commodities

Commodities rose this week, driven by a substantial jump in oil prices.  Oil markets have begun to show significant responsiveness to the status of vaccine development efforts, as normal economic conditions are critical to energy consumption. Energy markets have been highly volatile, with oil investors focusing on output and consumption concerns. Demand is still likely to recover slowly, however, and recent lockdown restrictions in Europe have raised doubts as to whether demand is going to continue in a positive direction. On the supply side, operating oil rigs are still well under early 2020 numbers, but trending upwards.

Gold fell this week even as the U.S. dollar weakened. Gold is a common “safe haven” asset, typically rising during times of market stress. The focus for gold has shifted to global macroeconomics and recovery efforts. Recent declines in precious metals could indicate increasing risk appetites.

Bonds

Yields on 10-year Treasuries rose this week from 0.82% to 0.84% while traditional bond indices fell. Treasury yield movements reflect general risk outlook and tend to track overall investor sentiment. Treasury yields will continue to be a focus as analysts watch for signs of changing market conditions.

High-yield bonds rose this week as spreads tightened. High-yield bonds are likely to remain volatile in the short to intermediate-term as the Fed has adopted a remarkably accommodative monetary stance and investors warm slightly to economic risk factors, likely driving increased volatility.

Lesson to be Learned

“Invest for the long haul. Don’t get too greedy and don’t get too scared.”

-Shelby M.C. Davis

FormulaFolios Indicators

FormulaFolios has two simple indicators we share that help you see how the economy is doing (we call this the Recession Probability Index, or RPI), as well as if the US Stock Market is strong (bull) or weak (bear).

In a nutshell, we want the RPI to be low on a scale of 1 to 100.  For the US Equity Bull/Bear indicator, we want it to read at least 66.67% bullish. When those two things occur, our research shows market performance is typically stronger, with less volatility.

The Recession Probability Index (RPI) has a current reading of 28.43, forecasting a lower potential for an economic contraction (warning of recession risk). The Bull/Bear indicator is currently 100% bullish, meaning the indicator shows there is a slightly higher than average likelihood of stock market increases in the near term (within the next 18 months).

It can be easy to become distracted from our long-term goals and chase returns when markets are volatile and uncertain. It is because of the allure of these distractions that having a plan and remaining disciplined is mission-critical for long term success. Focusing on the long-run can help minimize the negative impact emotions can have on your portfolio and increase your chances for success over time.

The Week Ahead

This week sees multiple high impact releases. Official unemployment and PMI numbers for both services and manufacturing will be updated. Continued progress in these areas should provide encouragement for economists and analysts.

More to come soon. Stay tuned.